Tuesday, May 17, 2016

During a phone conversation, Tuesday night, incoming president Rodrigo Duterte told United States President Barack Obama that his administration might go for bilateral negotiation with China to try to solve the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“I assured him that we will continue with our mutual interests and that we are allied with the Western in this issue on China Sea. But I gave him an inkling that, well, I would agree to just go with you,” Duterte told reporters after the phone conversation.

Duterte said Obama urged him to wait for the result of arbitration initiated by the Aquino administration.

“But if it goes on still waters, I said, there’s no wind to move the sail, I might opt to go bilateral,” he said.

Obama called to congratulate Duterte for winning the recent presidential elections.

In their phone conversation Obama highlighted the enduring values that underpin US’ thriving alliance with the Philippines and the longstanding ties between our two peoples, including our shared commitments to democracy, human rights, rule of law, and inclusive economic growth, the White House said.

“The two leaders affirmed their interest in seeing the relationship continue to grow on the basis of these shared principles,” the White House added.

Aside from this, shipboard tour, reciprocal receptions and goodwill games of basketball, volleyball and soccer were also conducted by personnel of the two navies.

The engagement between the Philippine and Australian navies will cap off with a send-off ceremony and a customary passing exercise between HMAS Anzac and BRP Rizal (PS-74) at the vicinity of Corregidor Island.

This visit is a manifestation of deepening friendships between the two navies and further fortifies the PN’s firm commitment of maintaining good relationship with foreign navies.

From Update.Ph (May 17): Communists: People’s war is set to press forward under the Duterte regime

Amid soon-to-be seated president Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements that he will go back to the negotiating table with the communist rebels and his readiness to give them top positions in his administration, the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said, May 15, that the New People’s Army will continue the armed resistance and front organizations’ democratic protests.

“While engaging the Duterte regime in peace negotiations and possible alliance in order to advance the national and democratic aspirations of the Filipino people, the revolutionary forces will continue to relentlessly advance the people’s armed resistance and democratic mass struggles,” the CPP central committee said in a press release.

“While open to cooperation and alliance, they must relentlessly criticize and oppose any and all anti-people and pro-imperialist policy and measure. There will be no honeymoon with the Duterte regime,” the CPP added.

It added that while displaying progressive character, Duterte is mainly a part of the ruling class political elite.

“For the past four decades, he has served the system as a bureaucrat and implemented its laws and policies. He has worked with foreign and local big capitalists, plantation owners and big landlords who expect returns under his regime. The masses of workers, peasants and farm workers in Davao City have long-suffered from the oppressive and exploitative conditions in the big plantations and export-oriented contract-growing businesses,” the CPP added.

The communists central committee also said “Duterte has yet to declare a clear deviation from the dominant neoliberal economic thinking which has brought about grave hardships to the Filipino people for more than three decades.”

“Duterte’s mettle is about to be tested. Will he walk his talk and take on the opportunity to stand up against US imperialism? Or will his bombast end up as empty rhetoric?” the CCP stated.

“Duterte must heed the people’s mounting clamor for land, jobs, wage increses, free education, public health and housing, reduction in the price of commodities, defense of Philippine sovereignty against US intervention, defense of national patrimony and economic progress and modernization, an end to corruption and crime in the bureaucracy, military and police,” CPP central committee said.

“If he fails or refuses to heed the people’s clamor, he is bound to end up a mere historical anomaly and suffer the same fate as the Estrada regime,” it added.

“The New People’s Army must continue to carry out the tasks set forth by the CPP Central Committee to intensify the people’s war by launching more frequent tactical offensives and seizing more arms from the enemy,” the CPP said.

The communist party said “only a people’s democratic revolution can decisively and thoroughly end imperialist and local big bourgeois comprador and landlord rule by overthrowing its armed state.”

“By intensifying their struggles, the Filipino people are bound to attain more and more victories in the years to come. The people’s war is set to press forward under the Duterte regime,” the CPP said.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 18): BRP Tarlac able to pass all technical specifications

BRP Tarlac (LD-601), the country's first strategic sealift
vessel (SSV), was able to pass all the requirements in her technical
specifications during her sea trials.

This was revealed by the ship's commanding officer, Capt.
Francis Alexander R. Jose, in an interview.

He declined to give exact details but stressed the BRP
Tarlac was able to meet all her technical specifications especially speed as
the SSV was able to steam to 14 to 16 knots without any difficulty during her
voyage home.

"For the performance of the vessel, it was able to
attain all the requirements specified in the technical specs with regards to
speed, capability with regards to the launching and recovery of the landing
craft utilities and helicopters, and it was also able to sustain the voyage
from Surabaya to the Philippines non-stop at speeds of ranging from 14 to 16
knots," Jose pointed out.

BRP Tarlac left the Surabaya
shipyard of PT PAL (Persero) May 9. She arrived in ManilaBay
after a five-day voyage last May 14.

She can carry 500 troops at one time besides, two rigid-hull
inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters.

She also has minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles
and a complement of 121 officers and enlisted personnel.

The BRP Tarlac was one of two SSVs acquired from PT PAL
(Persero) for the sum of PHP3.8 billion.

The Filipino SSV was patterned after the Indonesian
Makassar-class landing platform dock. Her sister-ship is expected to be
delivered by May 2017.

BRP Tarlac has a tonnage of 7,300 tons, overall length of
120 meters,breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and carry a payload of
2,800 tons.

Seven troopers from the 10th Scout Ranger Company were
wounded in a grenade attack in Jolo, Sulu early Wednesday morning.

The incident took place 5:21 a.m. at BarangayWalledCity in the
above-mentioned town.

Major Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson,
said the victims were conducting a logistic run when a still unidentified
suspect hurled a fragmentation grenade at the soldiers, wounding seven of the
latter.

Logistics run means the soldiers went to the town proper
either for marketing or to get supplies.

Tan did not release the names of the wounded soldiers except
in saying they belong to the 10th Scout Ranger Company of the Army’s 4th Scout
Ranger Battalion based in Bud Datu, Tagbak, Indanan.

“They (the soldiers) opted not to open fire as civilians
might be hit,” he said citing there were many people vicinity of the incident.

He said there is a big possibility that the Abu Sayyaf
brigands were behind the grenade attack.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 18): BRP Tarlac to play decisive role in relief missions

In time of calamities and other types of emergencies, the
BRP Tarlac (LD-601), with her huge load capacity and ability to house three
helicopters, can play a decisive role in stabilizing the situation.

The ship can carry a payload of 2,800 tons. BRP Tarlac's
gross tonnage is placed at 7,300 tons.

This was stressed by Philippine Fleet commander Rear Ronald
Joseph Mercado in a briefing.

"Let me just highlight, that this ship has two
heli-decks, enough to land two helicopters, and one hangar enough to house one
helicopter. So this adds to three helicopters, it's a very very big capability
for the Philippine Navy (PN) particularly as we are tasked time and again to
bring troops from one area to another area, and during calamities to help in
the distribution of relief goods," he added.

"So just imagine how many (things) can load on this
vessel," Mercado stressed.

Prior the arrival of the country's first SSV, the PN using
the two ships of the BacolodCity class landing ship
vessels for transport and disaster relief missions.

These ships have a tonnage of 4,265 tons each.

The PN earlier announced that the BRP Tarlac can accommodate
500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three
helicopters.

The ship has an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21
meters, draft of five meters and carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16
knots.

The BRP Tarlac was one of two SSVs acquired from PT PAL
(Persero) for the sum of PHP3.8 billion.

Sison, now 77, stayed abroad since 1987. He fled to Europe to seek asylum as a political refugee soon after peace talks failed.

Prospects for the resumption of the talks resurfaced during the campaign season after Sison and Duterte, in a chat via Skype, agreed to observe a ceasefirebetween government and the New People's Army if Duterte wins. They now seem brighter as Sison welcomed the nominees who will steer the government’s side of the talks.Watch the interview here.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday branded as “highly speculative” reports that Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya would be the next AFP chief of staff.Talks of Visaya’s possible assumption as AFP chief spread after presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reportedly said he prefers the “vibrant” Solcom commander to lead the 125,000-strong organization.Asked of his reaction after Duterte’s pronouncement, Visaya said “being considered to be the next CSAFP (chief of staff AFP) is already an honor.”A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, Visaya was previously included in the shortlist for AFP and Army chief.At a press briefing, Brig. Restituto Padilla Jr., AFP spokesman, said that unless official orders are issued by proper authorities, the AFP considers such information as speculation.“That is highly speculative…we cannot make any announcement until the next administration makes official announcements,” said Padilla.Padilla stressed that the appointment of AFP chief goes through the process under the Board of Generals (BoG) composed of senior officials of the AFP.So far, Padilla said that the BoG is yet to convene to come up with the shortlist of candidates to be submitted to Duterte upon his assumption as commander in chief on June 30.He also said he would not when would the BoG convene and come up with a shortlist of candidates.“Names (in the shortlist) will come from established process,” said Padilla.Padilla said that the Aquino administration did not appoint a permanent replacement of retired AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri to give the next administration the freehand in choosing the next military chief.President Aquino instead installed Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, AFP vice chief of staff, as acting chief of staff.“It is good thing the next administration will start with a clean slate,” Padilla said.Currently, the BoG is composed of Miranda, Maj. Gen. Salvador Mison, the deputy chief of staff; Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano; Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad, and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina.The AFP spokesman said that under the law, a president can extend the selection up to those with the rank of colonel and up.Right now, Padilla said there are more than 600 AFP officers with the rank of colonel and up.http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/visaya-as-next-afp-chief-highly-speculative-afp

Military troops seized illegally cut logs during a dragnet operation in Bulacan province on Monday.Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion (IB), said that a total of 300 board feet of good Red Lawaan lumber in assorted cuts, six motorcycles and an Elf truck were intercepted by members of the Bravo Company, under Lt. Rex Payot.Osias said that the seizure was a result of information provided by a concerned citizen about the illegal logging activity in the area.He said elements of the 48th IB’s Bravo Company immediately set up a dragnet that resulted in the interception of the illegally cut logs and vehicles along Sitio Buasao, Barangay Sapang Bulac, Doña Remedios Trinidad town.However, the suspects managed to flee after sensing the presence of military troops along their route, leaving behind their vehicles and the logs.“The operation is part of the 48th IB’s commitment to protect our environment. The intelligence-driven anti-illegal logging operation was a success due to the coordination of civilians in the area,” Osias said.Osis said that operations are now ongoing to track down the suspects.The confiscated logs were turned over to environment officials in San Rafael, Bulacan after they were entered into the blotter of the Doña Remedios Trinidad Police Station.http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/troops-confiscate-hot-logs-in-bulacan

Rodrigo Duterte on Monday offered the Left four departments to address serious concerns affecting labor, agrarian reform, environment and natural resources, and social welfare.

Meaning, the Philippine Left may endorse their comrade-experts for these agencies, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to sources, the Left has competent and well-qualified men and women who can join Duterte’s cabinet.

But, sources say, “leftist Technocrats” getting accepted by Duterte for the Department Secretary posts are entirely a different matter to be approved and confirmed later by the Senate Commission of Appointments.

“We are not sure if both the House of Representatives and the Senate will be friendly to the Duterte Administration,” said an activist.

“Chances are Congress might become hostile to Duterte,” said the activist, referring to previous Duterte’s anti-Congress statements and radical reforms during his campaign.

Duterte, due to assume the President position on July 1 after getting elected, hopes to strike a balance between groups involved in the internal conflict and the State, appeasing the Left while vowing to resume the stalled peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Leftist groups have openly campaigned for Duterte during the campaign period.

Over the week, leftist groups opened their first salvo at Duterte who has not yet assumed office, saying that his proposed, draft, 8-point economic agenda is a continuation of outgoing President Aquino’s neoliberal policies.

“It’s a copycat economic agenda lifted out from Aquino’s,” said a militant youth group.

Claiming, he has been a friend to the New People’s Army (NPA) and armed Muslim separatist groups, while serving as long-time mayor of Davao City, Duterte shall consider himself as their enemy when he assumes the Presidency.

“But, I will offer my hand in peace, and we shall talk to attain peace,” he said over media interviews in Manila.

Media reports over the week said exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison is willing to return to Manila if Duterte resumes the peace talks, which got stalled during the term of outgoing President Aquino.

It had been reported that militarist hawks inside the military establishment, a bunch of influential ones, preferred the swords of war rather than sweet-talking with the local communists.

National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiating panel chairperson Luis Jalandoni has described incoming president Rodrigo Duterte's offer of government positions to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as "electrifying."

In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, Jalandoni said the proposal "will empower the masses, the peasants and farmers."

He added that Duterte's move to offer four Cabinet positions to the CPP is "a big step towards unity and will remove the shackles of oppression and exploitation."

Jalandoni said he and exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison will come up with a shortlist of qualified and competent people to fill up the posts at the labor, environment, social welfare, and agrarian reform departments.

He said the move "will head towards equal distribution of wealth."

FOUR DEPARTMENTS
In a press conference in Davao City on Monday, Duterte said he would be willing to concede four departments to the CPP:

- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR),

- the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),

- the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),

- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

"Ang ibibigay ko sa Communist Party of the Philippines, if they decide to join the government, 'yung DAR, DENR...Labor is the one, sabi nila pinaka-oppressed 'yan, so they are the most vigilant group in the Philippines about labor," he said.

"So they will get it [DOLE] and DSWD, at marami pang iba. But those are the only departments I can concede to them, that four. Maganda na 'yan," Duterte added.

Julio Teehankee, dean of De La Salle University's College of Liberal Arts, said Duterte's offer to the CPP is a "stroke of genius."

Teehankee said putting the Left in charge of four social service-oriented Cabinet portfolios will redound to a truly socially inclusive coalition.

"This is part of his campaign promise to form a unity government, also confidence building measure with the communist Left. This is really out of the box. There has never been a government in our history that has offered the communists to join a coalition," he said in an ANC interview.

"The question is will the appointments come before or after the [peace] negotiations resume."

Ramon Casiple, Institute for Political and Electoral Reform executive director, described the offer as a trust-building measure that could effectively jump start peace negotiations with the CPP-New People's Army, which has been waging a nearly 5-decade-long rebellion.

Casiple noted the programs covered by the four departments are "not crucial." He said the four departments do not concern national defense or foreign affairs, but are instead primarily concerned with basic services.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 17): Well-decorated military officer eyed as next AFP chief

“To be considered to the post of AFP Chief of Staff is
already a big honor. But for now, I am focused on my job as commander of the
AFP Southern Luzon Command,” Lt. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya said in a statement
released by Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, Solcom spokesperson.

Indeed, Visaya might soon leave the leadership of the Solcom
as he is being eyed by presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte to be the next
head of Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class
of 1983, he is the 28th chief of the Solcom where he commands all Army, Navy
and Air Force units in Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Region 4-B (except Palawan) and
Bicol Region, Guzman said.

Born on Dec. 8, 1960 in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Visaya is a
decorated military officer, being a recipient of four Distinguished Service
Stars -- the third highest award in the AFP given for imminently meritorious
performance of duty in a position of major responsibility; three Gawad sa
Kaunlaran awards; 11 Bronze Cross medals; 49 Military Merit medals; 14 Military
Commendation medals; Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal; two Silver Wing medals; 20
Plaques of Recognition and countless letters of appreciation and commendation
from different military commanders and various socio-civic organizations, he
added.

He was awarded the Cavalier Award for Army operations in
2008, the most-coveted award that a PMA alumnus can obtain.

During his younger days in the military service, Visaya
earned his mark as a leader and firmly established the foundations of his
military career by ably performing key positions in the junior level of command
in the Philippine Army, the Solcom spokesman said.

Among these, he said, are: platoon leader and company
commander of the Bravo Company, 28th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division
and then commanding officer of the 3rd Intelligence and Security Unit,
Intelligence and Security Group.

Visaya's capability to hold a position of major
responsibility was proven when he assumed as battalion commander of the 69th
Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, in Central Luzon and soon after, as
battalion commander of the CMO Battalion, Civil–Military Operations Group in
Metro Manila.

He was also the commander of the following units: Task Group
WHITE Area, 202nd Infantry Brigade in Southern Tagalog, Task Force NILAD and
Joint Task Force LAND–NCR, National Capital Region Command.

Visaya also held the position of brigade commander of two
prestigious brigades, the 104th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division that
operated in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Lanao Provinces and Basilan, and the
901st Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division in the Bicol Region.

The Solcom chief was also designated as assistant division
commander of the 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, in Cotabato and as commander
of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in Cagayan de Oro City covering
the areas of Northern Mindanao (Regions X and
XIII).

These abilities could not have been realized without the
various schooling that he undertook, both local and abroad, Guzman said.

He also finished the Professional Managers Program at the AteneoUniversity,
Financial Statement Analysis at the University of Asia and the Pacific and
Masters in Project Management at the Australian Defense Force, Canberra, Australia.

“His wholehearted commitment, innovativeness, progressive
thinking and meritorious achievements as a military professional earned him the
admiration of his men and fellow officers in the organization,” Guzman said.

“Similarly, his undoubted high standard of performance and
outstanding leadership yielded many successes in his tour of duty in both
garrison and the field,” the Solcom spokesman added.

Prior to the synchronized presidential and local polls,
Visaya said, every soldier, airman, sailor and marine were ready to salute the
next President as their leader and commander-in-chief.

“Solcom will, at all times, follow the chain of command and
will recognize, respect and follow whoever emerges as the choice of the
majority. Every soldier, airman, sailor and marine will salute the next
President as our leader and commander-in-chief,” Visaya said.

Duterte has called Visaya as the "vibrant
general."

Visaya was also one of the top contenders for the top AFP
post last year.

Meanwhile, Visaya said the newly concluded elections were
generally peaceful in his area of jurisdiction.

He said 58 of the 59 cities and municipalities in the
election watchlist of areas (EWAs) in regions lV-A, lV-B (except Palawan) and Bicol Region were peaceful and orderly.

"The concluded synchronized national and local polls in
Southern Luzon were generally peaceful, except for that very unfortunate
election-related incident early morning in Barangay Wawa 3, Rosario,
Cavite which
left seven civilians dead," Visaya said.

He said that since January 2016, the Solcom focused on
security operations in cities and municipalities identified in the EWAs of the
commission on elections.

Though, in many instances, he said, his men had engaged the
communist insurgents.

“Our soldiers engaged the NPAs in EWAs and made tactical
gains. Some 5,500 soldiers and CAFGU active auxiliaries were deployed in the
area for election duties to augment the PNP. The AFP, PNP and Comelec share
this joint objective for a secured, fair, honest and credible conduct of the
National and Local Elections 2016,” he said.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 17): Religious leader stabbed to death by NPA rebelsA former policeman who founded a religious group was believed killed by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Monday, authorities said Tuesday.

Stabbed to death was Francisco Baguiz, a retired police officer and founder of Apocalypse International Ministry, Inc. (AIM, Inc.) based in Sitio Sioan in Barangay Malinao in Gingoog City.

Police said Baguiz was driving his car when he was flagged down by armed men wearing Army uniforms in Sitio Kibalikin in Malinao.SPO4 Teddy Macarayo of the Gingoog police said Baguiz got out of the vehicle and must have thought that it was soldiers who flagged him down.

Macarayo said Baguiz was handcuffed and brought by the armed men to a secluded area where he was stabbed four times. He did not reach the hospital alive.